Surprise surprise!

MGA scored a hat-trick at last night’s Toy Industry Awards with its L.O.L Surprise range picking up the Toy of the Year title – plus both the Craze of the Year and Creative Toy gongs.

And the 53rd TIAs, organised by the British Toy & Hobby Association with the Toy Retailers’ Association, saw Spin Master crowned as Supplier of the Year, while Toytown triumphed as Overall Toy Retailer of the Year.

A BTHA Golden Teddy Award was also presented to Character Options’ Colin Rossiter for outstanding achievement during his career in the toy industry that has so far spanned 40 years.

The 25 toy, supplier and retailer awards were revealed at last night’s gala event in Olympia’s Apex Room where the great and the good of the industry gathered after a bustling opening day of the 65th annual Toy Fair.

A high standard of entry was praised by BTHA chairman Jon Diver at the ceremony, while Toy Retailers’ Association chairman Alan Simpson said they had a hard task selecting the winners.

MGA was the big winner on the night as its L.O.L. Surprise range of collectables and accessories was named Toy of the Year, as well as taking the Craze of the Year trophy, with the L.O.L. Fizz Maker named as Creative Toy of the Year.

MGA was the big winner on the night as its L.O.L. Surprise range of collectables and accessories was named Toy of the Year, as well as taking the Craze of the Year trophy, with the L.O.L. Fizz Maker named as Creative Toy of the Year.

Honoured as Supplier of the Year, Spin Master made it four awards in total with Collectable Range of The Year, Doll of the Year, and Pre-School Toy of the Year to add to its haul of silverware.

And Toytown was the toast of the retailers with the Overall Retailer of the Year Award alongside its Specialist Multiple Retailer Over 25 Stores trophy.

Having presented the retailer awards, Jon said: “Congratulations on behalf of the BTHA to all the winners of this year’s Toy Retailer Awards – as always, it is a great pleasure to see such a high standard of entry and judges debated long and hard to determine this year’s winners. Recognition must also go to our worthy runners-up and big thanks must go to everyone for taking part.”

And Alan, who handed out TIA trophies, added: “On behalf of the TRA, our congratulations to all the award winners, and those with shortlisted products too. It wasn’t an easy task selecting winners for categories which stood out in 2017.

“We can now all look forward to a successful 2018. I have no doubt it will be challenging, but together we can make it a success.”

The full list of winners is:

TOY AND SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARDS:

Toy of the Year: L.O.L. Surprise, MGA

Action Toy of the Year: Stretch Armstrong, Character Options

Pocket Money Toy of the Year: Pokémon Cards, Esdevium

Interactive Toy of the Year: Fingerlings, Jazwares

Craze of the Year: L.O.L., MGA

Collectable Range of the Year: Hatchimals Collectables, Spin Master

Retro Toy of the Year: Rubik’s Cube, John Adams

Game of the Year: Dobble, Esdevium

Doll of the Year: Luvabella, Spin Master

Creative Toy of the Year: L.O.L. Fizz Maker, MGA

Pre-School Toy of the Year: Paw Patrol Vehicles, Spin Master

Electronic Toy of the Year: Laser X, Character Options

Licensor of the Year: Nickelodeon

Special Recognition Award: Playmobil

Supplier of the Year: Spin Master

TOY RETAILER OF THE YEAR WINNERS:

Overall Toy Retailer of the Year: Toytown

Small Independent Toy Retailer of the Year: Just Williams Toys

Large Independent Toy Retailer of the Year: Toymaster Cavan

Specialist Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year (up to 5 stores): Toy Galaxy